Cougs drop overtime heart-breaker to Oregon

PULLMAN, Wash. -- E.J. Singler made two free throws with 3.8 seconds left, lifting No. 23 Oregon to a 79-77 overtime win over slumping Washington State on Saturday to hold on to first place in the Pac-12 Conference.

Singler scored 25 points to lead Oregon (21-5, 10-3), which has won three in a row since a three-game losing streak dropped them from the Top 10. Carlos Emory added 20 for the Ducks.

Royce Woolridge scored a career-high 36 points for Washington State (11-15, 2-11), losers of six straight. Woolridge missed a half-court shot as time expired.

Washington State took an 11-point lead at halftime, but the Ducks erased that in the early minutes of the second half and the score was tied at 71 at the end of regulation.

DaVonte Lacy's free throw put Washington State up 72-71, but Johnathan Loyd replied with a basket and then Emory stole a pass and slammed the ball home for a 75-72 Oregon lead.

Brock Motum sank two free throws to bring WSU within one.

Singler made a free throw to give Oregon a 76-74 lead. After a WSU miss, Emory was fouled on the rebound and made his first free throw but missed his second. Oregon got the rebound but turned the ball over with 29 seconds left. Woolridge made a long 3-pointer to tie the score at 77.

But Dexter Kernich-Drew fouled Singler with 3.8 seconds left and the senior made both free throws for the winning points.

Washington State's first four field goals of the game were 3-pointers as they took a 13-11 lead.

Oregon center Tony Woods was called for a flagrant foul for elbowing Motum, WSU's leading scorer, in the head and was ejected from the game with 9:55 left in the first and Oregon trailing 19-13. Motum was on the floor for several minutes holding his head but returned quickly. Woods averages 10 points and 3 rebounds per game.

Washington State scored six consecutive points after that foul to take a 25-13 lead.

Oregon managed only one field goal over a 13-minute span to fall behind 32-15.

The Ducks clawed back behind three baskets by Emory, but Washington State led 38-27 at halftime. Woolridge had 22 points in the first half, besting his career high of 20, by making 7 of 9 shots, including 4 of 6 3-pointers. Oregon shot just 33 percent in the first, to 46 percent for WSU.

Oregon opened the second half with a quick 15-5 run, nine of the points by Singler and six by Damyean Dotson, to cut WSU's lead to 43-42.

Then Waverly Austin's basket gave Oregon its first lead since early in the game at 44-43 with 14:17 left.

Two 3-pointers by Kernich-Drew put WSU ahead 52-47.

The teams traded baskets, and Austin's layup brought Oregon to 56-55. Woolridge hit a 3-pointer for WSU, but Singler replied with one for Oregon.

Emory's dunk and free throw put Oregon ahead 61-59 with 5:54 left. Johnathan Loyd scored for Oregon, but Woolridge was fouled and made three free throws to bring WSU to 63-62.

Arsalan Kazemi's layup gave Oregon a 67-64 lead. After Motum made one of two free throws, Emory sank two free throws to put the Ducks up 69-65 with 1:58 left.

Washington State missed several 3-point tries. Then Woolridge was fouled going for a layup, and sank one free throw to bring WSU to 69-66 with 32 seconds left.

Washington State fouled Singler, who made both for a 71-66 lead with 28 seconds left. Motum was fouled shooting a 3 and made two of three to cut Oregon's lead to 71-68 with 18 seconds left.

Loyd was immediately fouled and missed both.

Washington State's D.J. Shelton rebounded and, after a timeout, DaVonte Lacy sank a 3-pointer from the left corner to tie the score at 71 with 5.3 seconds left.

Dotson and Singler both got off shots for Oregon, but missed and the game went into overtime.

Oregon has won five in a row over Washington State, including the game earlier this season in Eugene. They swept both Washington schools for the first time since 1990.